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It's been a week of sweat, water bottles and ice cream as a necessity. (Published Friday, July 6, 2012)

Well, if it's going to be this hot, at least it's record-breaking heat.

Friday -- the ninth day of the current heat wave -- means that we've now beat out the previous record of eight consecutive days above 95 degrees.

On Saturday, we could reach 104. Add in the humidity and it'll feel a heck of a lot hotter, with a heat index of around 110 Saturday afternoon.

An excessive heat warning has been issued from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday. That means a prolonged period of hot temperatures is expected.

Web Weather Forecast 7/6/12 PM

Get the latest forecast from Storm4 meteorologist Doug Kammerer.

(Published Friday, July 6, 2012)

The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will create a dangerous situation in which heat illnesses are possible. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioning if possible, stay out of the sun, and check on relatives and neighbors.

Don't take any chances with the heat. D.C. has issued an advisory recommending that residents stay hydrated, stick to the shade, and wear loose, light-colored clothing. And don't hesitate to call 911 if heat illness strikes -- it's an emergency.

Beating the Heat on Day 8 of the Wave

News4's Richard Jordan checks out how people in the area are keeping cool.

(Published Thursday, July 5, 2012)

Storm4 meteorologist Veronica Johnson says that the current heat wave, which started last Thursday, June 28, will run until Sunday, with high temperatures consistently above 95 degrees.

If it seems excessive, that might be because we haven't seen this kind of heat wave in years. When this current stretch ends on Sunday, it'll be the longest -- 11 days -- that the region has ever felt. The last time it was this hot for this long was eight brutal days in 2002.

But this wave is hotter than other eight-day stretches. It is the hottest stretch for D.C. in 80 years, Storm4 meteorologist Doug Kammerer said.

Fireworks Over Washington, D.C.

Cooling storms are on the way to end the heat wave by Monday, but those storms could be severe.

The D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation have closed all fields for the entire weekend. All outdoor activities, both DPR-sponsored and -permitted, are cancelled.

D.C. pools are operating on extended hours, some staying open as late as 9 p.m., through Saturday.

Recreation centers and indoor aquatic centers that have regular Saturday hours are being operated as cooling centers, except for the following which do not have air conditioning:

Benning Stoddert Recreation Center

Kalorama Recreation Center

Rita Bright Recreation Center

Kennedy Recreation Center

Stoddert Recreation Center

Theodore Hagins Recreation Center

Therapeutic Recreation Center

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that there was a heatwave of 22 consecutive days over 95 degrees in 2002. There were 22 days over 95 degrees over the course of the summer of 2002.